Zarak proves class and stamina in dramatic climax

Zarak finally enjoyed a long promised day in the sun after coming with a sustained run to cut down Silverwave on his first try over a mile and a half.

After a race littered with incident up the straight, Gregory Benoist was sent for precautionary checks on his neck after being unseated from Doha Dream.

Zarak's victory came as huge relief to both trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre and owner-breeder the Aga Khan, whose unbeaten champion Zarkava is now a Group 1-winning mother to go alongside her legendary efforts on the track.

Royer-Dupre said: "It's a relief when you have a good horse under your care who has known a few problems. In the Ganay he was a bit unlucky, while he didn't enjoy coming downhill on fast ground at Chantilly. It's very satisfying to see the real Zarak today.

"He has always been a high-class horse and if it weren’t for Almanzor he would already have another Group 1 and a Group 2 to his name."

Whether the son of Dubawi will attempt to follow Zarkava on to the roll of honour in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be the subject of plenty of reflection in the camp.

Paddy Power inserted Zarak into their Arc market at 20-1 following the four-year-old’s first success at the highest level, although Bet Victor were more impressed, offering odds of 14-1.

Reflecting on Zarak's poor performance in the Prix d'Ispahan at the end of May, Royer-Dupre said: "We'll have to see about the Arc. That descent on fast ground at Chantilly is the question."

Christophe Soumillon put Zarak to sleep at the back of the field before gradually looming into contention down the outside, a route that proved fortuitous given the trouble nearer the rail.

"Fortunately he's a bit like his mother and he has a very good turn of foot but he has sometimes had trouble sustaining it," said Soumillon. "He had to be very brave at the finish today because I knew Silverwave would be courageous to the end."

Silverwave went down by three-quarters of a length under Gerald Mosse, leaving trainer Pascal Bary to observe: "He put up a magnificent performance and was only beaten by the same horse that did for him in the Ganay. The Arc hasn't worked out for him twice now, so he might go for the Grand Prix de Deauville."

My Dream Boat did much the best of the three British-trained runners, just missing out on third behind Armande.

"I think we should have been third on the day but just got a bit tightened up in the last furlong, which isn’t ideal," said Adam Kirby. "He's coming back and he was back near his best today."

Hawkbill fought his way to the front under William Buick, having been trapped wide early, and was unable to sustain his challenge up the straight, finishing a well-beaten sixth.

"Whether he was potentially feeling the effects of the Coronation Cup, where he put up such a brave performance, maybe that's just telling," said Charlie Appleby. "He certainly looks like he's saying it’s time for a summer break and then bring him back for an autumn campaign."

Robin Of Navan was allowed to coast home by Cristian Demuro after the jockey felt something amiss.

"We think he might have pulled himself or just taken a funny step coming round the bend and as soon as that happened Cristian took no chances," said Harry Dunlop. "He seems okay but we'll take him home and assess things."

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Godolphin's Strathspey got up under Mickael Barzalona in the final stride to deny longtime leader Listen In on only her third start.

"The extra distance suited her and now she has won her Group 2 there's no choice but to aim for the Prix Vermeille," said trainer Andre Fabre.

Fabre will be aiming Irish Derby fourth Waldgeist at the same Arc Trials meeting in mid-September.

"There was no excuse and it was a fair race," said Fabre. "He will wait for the Niel in September."

The John Gosden-trained Elas Ruby stayed on to be third, while Oaks fourth Horseplay filled the same spot again for Andrew Balding.

"She was coming back strongly and I had plenty of horse at the line," said Horseplay's rider Oisin Murphy. "She'll be a different horse going up in trip."

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